U.K. retail sales fell by 1.5 percent in December compared with November, the biggest monthly fall since the EU referendum, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics said many shoppers had shifted spending to November to take advantage of Black Friday offers.

It comes as U.K.’s largest retailer of carpets Carpetright and clothing chain Bonmarche were the latest retailers to report a tough Christmas. Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, House of Fraser, and Mothercare were among the other High Street retailers which reported a decline in sales.

A squeeze on consumer spending also led to a difficult December for British shops. Inflation has been outstripping increases in wages, denting the spending power of shoppers.

For 2017 as a whole, the quantity of goods bought increased by 1.9 percent, which was the lowest annual growth since 2013.